On the June 21 edition of MSNBC's Countdown, host Keith Olbermann named radio talk show host Michael Graham and CNN's Glenn Beck the winners of his nightly “Worst Person in the World” award for Graham's remark that while watching the Clintons' video spoof of The Sopranos, he wanted to “see somebody come in here and just whack them both right there.”
As Media Matters for America documented, Graham made these comments during the June 20 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck. Olbermann quoted Graham saying, “Seriously, Glenn, didn't you at one point want to see, like, Paulie Walnuts [character on The Sopranos] or someone come in and just whack them both right there? Wouldn't that have been great?” Olbermann added:
How did Beck respond? Did he tell Graham you do not joke about actual violence whether it's against the Clintons or the Bushes or Michael Savage? No. Beck chuckled and said: “No, I did not want to see that,” and then smiled that little electro-shock therapy smile of his and let Graham add: “Let's make it happen.”
As Media Matters noted, Graham's comments were not edited out of subsequent airings of the program. Instead, CNN aired the same version of the show -- including Graham's remark about wanting to see “somebody come in ... and just whack” the Clintons -- at 7 and 9 p.m. ET on June 20 and at midnight on June 21.
Media Matters has also noted that ABC News hired Beck as a “regular commentator” on Good Morning America, and Washington Post Radio is reportedly considering hiring him.
From the June 21 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann:
OLBERMANN: But tonight's winners, Michael Graham and good old Glenn Beck of CNN. Discussing the Clintons-Sopranos spoof, Graham, radio yakker and former Republican consultant, mused about wishing to see the Clintons murdered in the video.
Quoting Graham: “Seriously, Glenn, didn't you at one point want to see, like, Paulie Walnuts or someone come in and just whack them both right there? Wouldn't that have been great?”
How did Beck respond? Did he tell Graham you do not joke about actual violence whether it's against the Clintons or the Bushes or Michael Savage? No. Beck chuckled and said: “No, I did not want to see that,” and then smiled that little electro-shock therapy smile of his and let Graham add: “Let's make it happen.”
Michael Graham and Glenn Beck of CNN, today's “Worst Persons in the World.”